Linkable plush toys

ABSTRACT

A stuffed doll attachment and detachment system is disclosed, where doll parts are configured so that certain doll parts are complementary to each other and/or to other objects. In a preferred embodiment, the limbs or torso of a doll are modified to become complementary ball or socket elements. These ball and socket elements are implemented in soft, pliant material, and, when engaged, form reliable connections between dolls or between a doll and another object.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/258,130 which was filed on Dec. 22, 2000 and is hereby incorporated in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] The present invention relates generally to dolls, and, more particularly, to a system by which a doll has a ball or socket means integrated into its limbs or torso, by which the doll may attach and detach from another doll, as well as attach and detach from other objects.

[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0005] Dolls that are capable of holding objects and other dolls are known. Some dolls use hands that are shaped to the object they are intended to hold. For instance, a G.I. Joe™ doll has hands constructed of solid plastic, where the hands have both the index finger and the thumb extended, allowing various implements, e.g. guns, tools, to be held in-between the two fingers. In some dolls, the holding pieces, e.g. the thumb and index finger, are constructed with an in-between distance that is smaller than the object that is to be held, so that the object is snapped into place and held by a clamping action. These dolls are limited to attaching or detaching objects that are expressly made for that purpose, e.g., objects that either snap or can be held in-between the doll's thumb and index finger. Furthermore, these dolls, or at least their holding pieces, are limited to a hard plastic construction. Such constructions may not be good for younger children, whose dolls should be soft and pliable. Further still, the holding pieces on these hard plastic dolls may lose their grasping abilities over time, because of extended use.

[0006] One solution to the problems of a hard plastic construction is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,729,751 in which a doll is described that uses a system of Velcro™ fastening patches to attach and detach dolls and other objects, including other dolls. For instance, a doll may have a Velcro™ “hook”, or “male”, patch sewn to its hand region, and the object to be held, such as a toy pen, will have a “loop”, or “female”, patch glued on to its barrel. By such means, the doll may “hold” the pen in its hand. However, there are problems with this doll. For one thing, the object to be held must have a Velcro™ patch fastened to it in order that the object attach itself to the Velcro™ patch affixed in the doll's hand. So every held object must either be consciously built to fit the system, or be affixed with a Velcro™ patch. Furthermore, the attaching ability of Velcro™ lessens over time, as both the hook and loop patches become dirty. Further still, any abrupt pulling of two objects attached by Velcro™ patches results in the two objects detaching from each other.

[0007] Another solution is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,344,355 in which a doll has an “extension member” of soft fabric, such as the top of a pointed hat, which has a tip that is fastened to the body of the doll, thus forming a loop. A pacifier may be attached to the doll by means of the loop. However, there are problems with this doll as well. First, the extension member is designed with only one specific object to be attached to the doll, in this case, a pacifier. So the extension member must be consciously built to fit a specific type of pacifier, which has the appropriate orifice to fit the extension member. Furthermore, although the object will remain attached during the stresses of child play, the object can not be detached by a child, and must be manipulated by an adult to implement attachment and detachment.

[0008] Therefore, a system is needed where objects can be attached to a doll and/or where dolls can be attached to objects and/or other dolls without necessarily being built, or modified, for that purpose. Further, a doll attachment/detachment system is needed where the attachment/detachment means do not lessen in effectiveness through use and/or over time. Further still, a doll attachment/detachment system is needed where the attaching and detaching of objects may be performed by children, yet the attachment of objects can bear the stresses and strains of child's play without detaching.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009] An object of the present invention is to provide a system where objects can be attached to a doll without necessarily being built, or modified, for that purpose.

[0010] Another object of the present invention is to provide a doll attachment/detachment system where the attachment/detachment means do not lessen in effectiveness through use and/or over time.

[0011] Another object of the present invention is to provide a doll attachment/detachment system where the attaching and detaching of objects may be performed by children, yet the attachment of objects can bear the stresses and strains of child's play without detaching.

[0012] Another object of the present invention is to provide a doll attachment/detachment system where the location of the attachment/detachment means on the doll is flexible, and open to many variations.

[0013] Another object of the present invention is to provide a doll attachment/detachment system where dolls can be implemented in order to attach to a particular object, without having to alter or modify the particular object.

[0014] Another object of the present invention is to provide a doll attachment/detachment system where the dolls can attach to everyday household objects, such as doorknobs, or child-centric objects, such as a child's bottle or a toy.

[0015] Another object of the present invention is to provide a doll attachment/detachment system which can also be used by children to conveniently grasp and carry dolls.

[0016] Another object of the present invention is to provide a doll attachment/detachment system which can be used to effectuate a storage system, a temporary placement system, or a display system.

[0017] To accomplish these and other objects, a system is disclosed, where doll parts are configured so that certain doll parts are complementary to each other and/or to other objects. In one aspect, a stuffed doll with a surface of soft fabric is configured to have at least one of a protruding element and a socket element formed in a section of the body of the stuffed doll. The protruding element is capable of releasable engagement with the socket element. In a preferred embodiment, the sections of the body of a doll are modified to become complementary ball or socket elements. These ball and socket elements are implemented in soft, pliant material, and, when engaged, form reliable connections between dolls or between a doll and another object. The body sections which can be modified include, but are not limited to, a head, an ear, an eye, a mouth, a finger, a hand, an arm, a toe, a foot, a leg, or an abdomen.

[0018] In another aspect, a stuffed doll with a surface of soft fabric is configured to have a socket element formed in a section of the body of the stuffed doll. In different embodiments, the socket element is formed to fit over a doorknob, a bottle, a toy, a limb of a child, or a protruding element formed in a section of a body of another stuffed doll. The socket element can be formed to be easily graspable by a child, or formed so that a child may easily engage a protruding element in the at least one socket element and may easily disengage the protruding element from the at least one socket element. In another embodiment, the socket element is formed so that a storage unit may hold the stuffed doll. The storage unit has at least one protruding extension, wherein the at least one protruding extension is formed to be complementary to the socket element of the stuffed doll.

[0019] The various features of novelty which characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of the disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages, and specific objects attained by its use, reference should be had to the drawing and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated and described preferred embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] In the drawings:

[0021]FIG. 1 is a drawing of a doll according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0022]FIG. 2 is a drawing of another doll according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0023]FIG. 3 illustrates how the FIG. 1 doll and the FIG. 2 doll connect with each other, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0024]FIG. 4 is a drawing of a doll according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0025]FIGS. 5A and 5B illustrate how the FIG. 4 doll connects with other objects, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0026]FIG. 6 shows various animal dolls connected in a vertical chain according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; and

[0027]FIG. 7 shows various animal dolls connected in a horizontal chain according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENTLY PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0028]FIGS. 1, 2, and 4 show plush stuffed dolls according to preferred embodiments of the present invention. FIG. 1 shows a doll in which socket elements are implemented in the arm limbs and ball elements are implemented in the leg limbs. FIG. 2 shows a doll in which ball elements are implemented in the arm limbs and socket elements are implemented in the leg limbs. FIG. 4 shows a doll in which a socket element is implemented in the doll's torso. FIGS. 3, 5A, and 5B show how the dolls from FIGS. 1, 2, and 4 are connected to each other, as well as other objects. FIG. 3 shows the formation of a connection or link between the FIG. 1 doll and the FIG. 2 doll. FIGS. 5A and 5B shows the doll in FIG. 4 engaging various objects. FIGS. 6 and 7 show various animal dolls attached in chains according to preferred embodiments of the present invention.

[0029] In FIG. 1, the plush stuffed doll 100 has two arms 111 and 112 and two legs 113 and 114, as well as a head 120. At the end of each of the two arms 111 and 112 is formed a hole 130 and 131, respectively, roughly in the position of a hand. Each hole operates as a socket element in the system according to this preferred embodiment of the invention. At the end of each of the two legs 113 and 114 is formed a ball 140 and 141, respectively, roughly in the position of a foot. In FIG. 2, the plush stuffed doll 200 has two arms 211 and 212 and two legs 213 and 214, as well as a head 220. At the end of each of the two arms is formed a ball 230 and 231, respectively, roughly in the position of a hand. At the end of each of the two legs 213 and 214 is formed a hole 240 and 241, respectively, roughly in the position of a foot.

[0030]FIG. 3 shows the FIG. 1 doll 100 on the left and the FIG. 2 doll 200 on the right. Reference numerals 310 through 350 in the middle of FIG. 3 indicate the arm of the two dolls in various stages of attachment and detachment. At 310, the ball hand 230 of doll 200 is next to the socket hand 130 of doll 100. At 320, force is applied at point A such that ball hand 230 is pushed into socket hand 130. At 330, ball hand 230 and socket hand 130 are engaged, thus attaching the dolls to each other. At 340, force is applied at point B such that ball hand 230 is pushed out of socket hand 130. At 350, the two dolls are shown separated once again. Although the preferred embodiment uses a ball element with the socket element, other protruding elements might be used. For example, a circular T-shaped protuberance is used in 360 and a hook-shaped; protuberance is used in 370. Any male protruding element that is capable of releasable engagement with a female socket element can be used in the present invention, where at least one of the two elements is made from a part of a stuffed doll.

[0031]FIGS. 6 through 7 show animal dolls exhibiting various attachments in the formation of a doll “chain” according to preferred embodiments of the present invention. FIGS. 6 and 7 show the ball and socket connections that are formed between dolls according to preferred embodiments of the present invention being used to hold a chain of dolls vertically (FIG. 6), as well as a horizontal chain (FIG. 7). These ball and socket connections can also bear more stress, as will be described in reference to FIG. 3. Because force has to be selectively applied at point B to detach ball hand 230 from socket hand 130, the connection formed by the ball and socket will not break when pulling forces are applied elsewhere. For instance, if, during the normal rough-and-tumble play of a child, a pulling force is applied at points C or D, the connection formed by the ball and socket hands will remain intact. A much larger pulling force would be needed (at points C or D) to actually detach the two.

[0032] Although the dolls in the preferred embodiments of FIGS. 1 and 2 have socket and ball elements implemented where their hands or feet would be, ball and socket elements according to other embodiments are implemented in other locations, such as the ear or the head (as is shown in FIGS. 6 and 7). For instance, as shown in the preferred embodiment of FIG. 4, doll 400 has a socket element 415 implemented in its torso 410. Socket element 415 is larger than the socket elements implemented in the dolls of FIGS. 1 and 2. This is because socket element 415 has not been created in order to engage ball elements of other dolls in the same manner as FIG. 3, but instead has been created to engage a doorknob 510, as seen in FIG. 5A, or a child's bottle 520, as seen in FIG. 5B. This shows the flexibility of this novel system, because the socket element has been implemented in the doll so that it will engage the bottle or the doorknob, but, unlike the prior art, the bottle or doorknob do not need to be modified or expressly built to engage with socket element 415. This flexibility allows for dolls to be created to attach to (and detach from) everyday objects and toys.

[0033] Furthermore, in another embodiment, socket elements are implemented in dolls, and a storage container is built with complementary ball elements, so that the dolls may be conveniently stored. In the same vein, yet another embodiment matches the socket elements of dolls with ball elements in a display, or even a dollhouse, so that the dolls may be attached in various poses, or in various settings. Still another embodiment matches socket elements on dolls with everyday household objects, such as bedposts, etc., so that adults may temporarily store, or place, the dolls away from their child. Although many of the embodiments described here use socket elements on the dolls so that they match up to ball elements, it should be noted that most embodiments could also be implemented with ball elements in the dolls so that they match up to socket elements. Similarly, although the embodiments described here have particular ball or socket elements with particular functions, these elements and their functions are mostly interchangeable. For example, the FIG. 4 doll has a torso socket which can engage a doorknob or a bottle, but it is equally possible to have a torso socket engage another doll ball element, or to have an ear socket built to engage a doorknob or a bottle. The variations possible with this flexible system are legion.

[0034] The nature of the ball and socket system also allows another use: children may use the ball sections or socket sections to grasp or carry the dolls. Because of the size of the ball sections, and the convenient “handles” created by the placement of holes, the small hands of children can fit around or in sections of a doll, thus allowing the children to easily hold the entire doll. This also allows children to “wear” their dolls, such as, for instance, when a child places an arm or leg through one or more doll sockets.

[0035] The preferred embodiments described above make some of the advantages of this flexible doll connector system clear. Objects can be attached to a doll without necessarily being built, or modified, for that purpose. Because they are implemented in soft, pliant material and do not rely on a rigid connection, the attachment/detachment means do not lessen in effectiveness over time.

[0036] With dolls implemented according to these preferred embodiments, children can perform the attaching and detaching of dolls or dolls and objects, yet the attachment of objects can bear the stresses and strains of child's play without detaching. Furthermore, the ball and socket elements can be implemented in numerous places on a doll, allowing for a flexible system, open to many variations. Further still, this doll attachment/detachment system can be used to effectuate a storage system, a temporary placement system, or a display system.

[0037] Thus, while there have shown and described and pointed out fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details of the dolls illustrated, and in their operation, may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, it is expressly intended that all combinations of those elements which perform substantially the same function in substantially the same way to achieve the same results are within the scope of the invention. Moreover, it should be recognized that structures and/or elements shown and/or described in connection with any disclosed form or embodiment of the invention may be incorporated in any other disclosed or described or suggested form or embodiment as a general matter of design choice. It is the intention, therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the claims appended hereto. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A doll attachment and detachment system comprising: at least one stuffed doll with a body having a surface of soft fabric, wherein each of at least one stuffed doll has at least one of: a protruding element formed in a section of the body of the stuffed doll; and a socket element formed in a section of the body of the stuffed doll; wherein said protruding element is capable of releasable engagement with said socket element.
 2. The doll attachment and detachment system of claim 1, wherein the body section is a head, an ear, an eye, a mouth, a finger, a hand, an arm, a toe, a foot, a leg, or an abdomen.
 3. The doll attachment and detachment system of claim 1, wherein the socket element is formed to fit over a doorknob, a bottle, a limb of a child, or a toy.
 4. The doll attachment and detachment system of claim 1, wherein the protruding element is a ball element, a circular T-shaped element, or a hook-shaped element.
 5. The doll attachment and detachment system of claim 1, wherein the socket element or the protruding element is formed to be easily graspable by a child.
 6. The doll attachment and detachment system of claim 1, wherein the socket element and the protruding element are formed so that a child may easily engage the protruding element in the socket element and may easily disengage the protruding element from the socket element.
 7. The doll attachment and detachment system of claim 1, further comprising: a storage unit for holding the at least one stuffed doll, said storage unit being comprised of at least one of a protruding extension and a socket, wherein the at least one of a protruding extension and a socket is formed to be complementary to the at least one of a protruding element and a socket element of the at least one stuffed doll.
 8. A stuffed doll with a body having a surface of soft fabric comprising: at least one socket element formed in a section of the body of the stuffed doll.
 9. The stuffed doll of claim 7, wherein the body section is a head, an ear, an eye, a mouth, a finger, a hand, an arm, a toe, a foot, a leg, or an abdomen.
 10. The stuffed doll of claim 7, wherein the at least one socket element is formed to fit over a doorknob, a bottle, a toy, a limb of a child, or a protruding element formed in a section of a body of a stuffed doll.
 11. The stuffed doll of claim 7, wherein the at least one socket element is formed to be easily graspable by a child.
 12. The stuffed doll of claim 7, wherein the at least one socket element is formed so that a child may easily engage a protruding element in the at least one socket element and may easily disengage the protruding element from the at least one socket element.
 13. The stuffed doll of claim 7, wherein the at least one socket element is formed so that a storage unit may hold the stuffed doll, said storage unit being comprised of at least one protruding extension, wherein the at least one protruding extension is formed to be complementary to the at least one socket element of the stuffed doll.
 14. A doll attachment and detachment system comprising: a first stuffed doll with a body having a surface of soft fabric, wherein the first stuffed doll has a protruding element formed in a section of the body of the stuffed doll; and a second stuffed doll with a body having a surface of soft fabric, wherein the second stuffed doll has a socket element formed in a section of the body of the stuffed doll and the protruding element of said first stuffed doll is capable of releasable engagement with the socket element of the second stuffed doll.
 15. The doll attachment and detachment system of claim 14, wherein the body section of the first stuffed doll or the second stuffed doll is a head, an ear, an eye, a mouth, a finger, a hand, an arm, a toe, a foot, a leg, or an abdomen.
 16. The doll attachment and detachment system of claim 14, wherein the socket element is formed to fit over a doorknob, a bottle, a limb of a child, or a toy.
 17. The doll attachment and detachment system of claim 14, wherein the protruding element is a ball element, a circular T-shaped element, or a hook-shaped element.
 18. The doll attachment and detachment system of claim 14, wherein the socket element or the protruding element is formed to be easily graspable by a child. 